Pokémon Go, the latest augmented reality game from Nintendo, has turned out to be an international sensation. It has also turned out to be a boon for restaurants, retail stores, museums, and public venues of all kinds that have nothing to do with Pokémon. Why? Because when you are using the app, Pokémon are hiding in plain sight, superimposed in your environment. As more and more customers wander in, looking for Pokémon, businesses are finding they have an invisible inventory they didn’t even know they had. And while customers are there “catching them all,” businesses are catching real sales, and educating new customers about their businesses. Still think it is a silly game?

Pokémon Go is important to businesses because it is the latest craze. But it is even more important because it has shown a proof of concept. Augmented Reality is here, and it is something people from all walks of life can embrace. That makes this game, and others like it, a real and ongoing way to reach your market.

Fortunately, Pokémon Go offers some very inexpensive ways to help lure players to your premises. If you have a business-to-consumer company that is dependent on foot traffic, this little game could have a big impact on your sales.

Here are some of the ways you can make Pokémon Go work for you:

Buy lures for your business

For as little as $1.50 an hour, you can purchase “lures” for your physical location from the Pokémon Go store within the app. These lures will attract Pokémon to your location through the game, bringing the potential for more people to visit your location when out hunting Pokémon. “Wild” Pokémon are harder to find than you might expect, so having them lured to your location and therefore easier to catch will be a big draw for your business.

Advertise on social media

dRAE can help you come up with a plan that will target the market you need– namely customers that are in a certain radius of your store, and might be likely to walk in. If you notice that there is a large gathering of Pokémon Go players regularly near your business, you might think about advertising a deal for Pokémon Go players. You can even broadcast your Free WiFi as a potential draw for those walking around the area looking to catch Pokémon. This is especially useful if you are near what is called a PokeStop, which is where users can visit to get in-game items. Businesses closest to these stops can really benefit by broadcasting that they are Poké-friendly.

Play to teams

Pay attention to which one of the three Pokémon “teams” have won one or more Pokémon gyms in your area. There are three different Pokémon teams. If a certain team has control of the gym in your area, why not advertise directly to them with posters, signboards, and company tweets, mobilizing them to come into your business.

Take your business on the road

If your business has a mobile component, like a food truck for a restaurant, or a fashion truck for a clothing store, take your business where the Pokémon are. So, if there is a very popular destination for Pokémon hunters, like a local monument or park, for instance, setting up nearby could help you build awareness and sales. This also provides you with a chance to offer promotions directly to the potentially thousands of Pokémon Go players that may be in your area.

Encourage players to share on your social channels

Pokémon Go provides a unique opportunity in that it superimposes Pokémon onto what is seen through a smartphone’s camera. This means that you can have your customers take photos of the Pokémon within your business so that you can share them online. Be sure to have them tag your business along with the photo so that you can let people know that you are open to Pokémon Go players. Businesses that have embraced this craze have seen lots of organic marketing opportunities arise from simple photos like these.

At dRAE, we try to stay ahead of trends like this in Virtual Reality and gamification. They provide unique opportunities for marketing that many companies miss. Could opportunities like this be right for you? Don’t limit yourself to outdated methods and strategies. Let dRAE Media & Marketing help you reinvigorate your social and digital strategy. Doesn’t matter whether you are in Louisville, Lexington, or Timbuktu, we have the tools to take your business to the next level. Contact us today and let us show you what dRAE Media & Marketing can do.

Dawn Wigginton has 14 years of marketing and communications experience, focusing in on-line strategy and digital communication. She’s earned a unique skill set and expertise in business development, branding, online brand development and leadership through her work with clients such as the American Heart Association, General Electric (GE), Grand Ole Opry and Humana. Her offline specialties include business development, marketing, strategic planning, leadership, presentations, project management, event coordination and consultation.
Dawn has since formed a Louisville-based collaborative team of professionals doing business as dRAE Media. Leveraging her and her teams experience to increase sale through digital marketing and social media.